Drunk man drives 8 blocks with dying cyclist on Altima: Cops
Share this @internewscast.com

Left inset: Xavier Rigby (Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office). Right inset: Kjersten Aileen-Hermance Strang (Facebook). Background: The area of 49th Street and 10th Avenue South in Gulfport, Fla., where Xavier Rigby allegedly struck and killed Kjersten Aileen-Hermance Strang (Google Maps).

Authorities report that a Florida man, allegedly intoxicated at the time, hit a woman riding an “E-bike” and continued to drive for about eight blocks with her body on the windshield of his Nissan Altima before she fell off and was left unassisted.

Xavier Rugby, 22, faces charges including leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, vehicular homicide, and DUI manslaughter for the incident that resulted in the death of Kjersten Aileen-Hermance Strang, 38, from St. Petersburg, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office press release.

Strang was riding along 49th Street South in Gulfport when she was hit by Rugby around 10 p.m., police say. She succumbed to her injuries on-site.

“Rigby was operating a 2021 Nissan Altima southbound on 49th Street, nearing 10th Avenue South, at a high speed,” according to the sheriff’s office. “Investigators indicate Rigby struck Strang, causing her to fly off her E-bike and land on the vehicle’s windshield. Rigby proceeded to drive approximately eight blocks before Strang was released from the vehicle.”

Instead of stopping, Rigby allegedly fled the scene “without contacting 911 or waiting for police and emergency services.” St. Petersburg Police Department officers later located him near 2222 49th Street South in St. Petersburg and attempted to conduct a DUI test.

“Rigby showed signs of impairment and refused to cooperate with field sobriety tests,” the PCSO release says. Rigby was arrested soon after and transported to the Pinellas County Jail, where he remained behind bars Sunday.

“Heaven gained one of the most beautiful (inside and out) angels who loved life to the fullest,” Strang’s aunt and godmother wrote on Facebook Sunday. “[Strang] was just getting her life back together when a drunk driver struck her while she was riding her bike in Gulfport, FL. The person in the car fled the scene. Please pray for our family as we mourn her passing.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Vote-by-Mail Ban, Upholds State Authority to Restore Constitutional Balance

President Donald Trump listens to a question from a reporter as he…

Beach Confrontation Turns Violent: Man Attacked Over Cigarette and Phone, Police Report

Inset: Jack Daniel Gutierrez (Miami-Dade County Corrections & Rehabilitation). Background: The beach…

Shocking Update: Ex-Husband Arrested for Double Homicide of Ohio Dentist Spencer Tepe and Wife

UPDATE Records from the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois confirm the…

Mother Accused in 5-Year-Old Daughter’s Murder Declines Plea Deal; Trial Expected with Her Children as Witnesses, Authorities Confirm

Left to right: Latasha Mott and Corrice Parks (WSYR/YouTube). In a surprising…

Officer Spencer Tepe Responds to Incorrect Address After Welfare Check Request at Dentist and Spouse’s Residence

Recently unveiled body camera video reveals a Columbus police officer mistakenly arriving…

Florida Couple Faces Charges After Abandoning 14-Year-Old in Filthy Home with Deceased Dog

Inset left to right: Marchelle Pertilla and Eugene Medrano (Mobile County Sheriff”s…

First Amendment Advocates Slam Mar-a-Lago Ruling: Urgent Call for Appeals Court to Uphold Public Access Rights

Left: Then-special counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media about an indictment…

Man Allegedly Assaults Woman and Toddler, Threatens Further Harm, Police Report

Inset: Thomas Vance (Erie County Jail). Background: The area near where Vance…

Teen Cheerleader’s Brave Battle on Carnival Cruise: No Arrests Yet

Over two months have passed since Anna Kepner tragically lost her life…

Controversial $800K Budget for ‘Free’ Jail Phone Calls Raises Concerns Over Potential Criminal Activity

Alachua County Jail inmates use a phone in a housing pod |…

Gainesville Woman Faces Arrest for Allegedly Embezzling Funds from Elderly Relative

In Gainesville, Florida, Vision Cierra Wilson, aged 44, found herself in legal…

Father’s Outburst: Gunfire Erupts at Middle School Amid Custody Dispute, Followed by Courtroom Rant

Inset: Shawntez Marshaun Gregory (WDIV/YouTube). Background: Romulus Middle School in Romulus, Michigan…